Littops are an example of plants that can survive even a multi -week lack of attention without any damage. At home, they are able to withstand over two months without watering, which makes them extremely resistant to neglect. Their ability to survive results from the natural adaptation to the extreme conditions of South Africa: low rainfall areas, high sunlight and violent daily temperature fluctuations. Meaty litogs leaves accumulate water supply, and their growth remains almost imperceptible for long weeks. From the owner’s point of view, this means that during vacation or intensive periods of plant work they do not require any attention.
Representatives of this species, often referred to as “live stones”, are succulents that have developed unique camouflage – Their leaves resemble small pebbles, thanks to which they blend with the surroundings and remain invisible to herbivores. In nature, they grow on the stony wastelands of South Africa, where they occur in several dozen species, often limited to a specific type of rock or microclimate. Each copy creates one pair of fused leaves, between which single appears in autumn. The small size and decorative form make it perfect are suitable for compact pot compositions.
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In Littopsy apartments, they feel best in wide, flat pots made of ceramics, which facilitate the evaporation of moisture and reduce the risk of transferring. The substrate should be almost entirely mineral, e.g. sand and crushed granite, which not only imitates desert conditions, but also emphasizes the natural colors of plants: from gray and brown to greens and purples. The ideal place for LiPs is a southern exhibition window sill, where they have access to at least five hours of intense light a day, which prevents the leaves and the disappearance of the pattern on their surface. In autumn, between fused leaves, flowers appear (usually white or yellow), which develop in the afternoon, and they close with the arrival of dusk.
In the summer, usually from the end of June to mid -August, these succulents pass resting phaseslightly going back deep into the ground. At this time, watering is completely suspended – even a small amount of water can then damage the roots. Return to activity promises to be by gently opening the gap between the leaves, which is a signal to a one -time deep. Then the soil must dry completely, and the plant goes to the flowering phase, after which it produces a new pair of leaves, also without the need for irrigation, until the older tissue is completely dried.
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As a substrate, it works best a mixture of gravel, coarse sand and fucked granitewhich account for 60 to 70 percent of the volume. The pots must be deep enough – at least eight centimeters – to provide space for a vertical, pile root, which in adult plants can reach up to seven centimeters. We only make transplant when the plants begin to touch each other or when one of them is clearly overwhelming current container.
Littits feel best on the southern window sills. In winter, they require a decrease in ambient temperature (to about 10-15 ° C), which can be obtained by moving the pot closer to the glass and Limiting the radiator. Fertilization is performed only in autumn, giving a low nitrogen content and higher potassium participation, which supports the development of flowers. A monthly checking of leaves is also good practice in terms of pestsmost often spider mites and wools, which we eliminate with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol.
